Assimilating with white culture would definitely be harder for African Americans than any other non white race. Though Native Americans did have a major part in American history, the riots and controverses of race were mostly between White and Black Americans. While discussing the concept of eliminating the term race, only in reference to skin color, and it not being a factor of a society made me think of the movie Men in Black. In this movie, the Men in Black corporation, MIB, tries to make everyone look the same and in a sense attempts to take away a person's identity. Race is not a factor when selecting people for MIB; a person’s capabilities to perform various tasks are what gives him entry into the MIB corporation . After entering MIB, any differences between the members are eliminated as the corporation gives them the same suits and clothes etc; they even take away their fingerprints. However, the difference in race of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith stands out throughout the whole movie. They themselves even make references to the fact of both of them being of different race, meaning skin color. The movie helps to further demonstrate how race is a major part of one’s identity and it’s a part that cannot be hidden by any means. Obviously, MIB is shown to be a world of its own so it could be an example of that compossible world, as it is blind to race but its blindness doesn’t diminish the face of race itself and its importance to a human being‘s identity. Though attaining a society that is race less and one which ignores the term race would be more realistically reached by facing the controversy of race rather than just eliminating it.
In another movie Remember the Titans, the problem of racism it faced while keeping race itself alive. The team learns how to get beyond the racial barriers and play and win together. However, the Titans are able to get along because of they all assimilate into each other’s cultures, by appreciating each other’s families to music tastes and not trying to eliminate the concept of skin color and cultural differences but to face them. Even though there were still people, in Remember the Titans that remained racist, if the majority goes past it then maybe a less racist society will be created. Racism, that implies a negative connotation and prejudices should be eliminated but race itself will remain because it is a part of a person’s own identity.
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The reference to Remember the Titans is a great example of how people should go about approaching race in a modern sense. I completely agree with Manali's final statement that a new connotation of race can be created, and it can be a positive change. I have to disagree though that to get to that point people must assimilate, because I feel that through a basis of common respect for one another's identities and practices one can reach a point of co-existing without "racism." There would still be race that has historically gained significance, but has enriched our culture and through the struggle we have come out a stronger country. Just as in Remember the Titans, when they looked past the differenced and began to accept one another for who they were they accomplished their goals and advanced further than they thought they could have.
ReplyDeleteI must side with Courtney. Assimilation is not necessary to have a mutual respect and it is possible for the middle ground to simply be that appreciation without actually adopting anything.
ReplyDeleteBut, dude, serious high-five on the Men In Black and Remember the Titans references. I loved those movies.
I also want to point out the idea of exoticism, as one of Fanon's objectifying techniques, that comes about through these movies. For example, In Remember the Titans, when respect has been fostered, the black people are seen as cool because they sing soul and the whole bus joins in.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem true, too, that people go to Beale street to get away from the norm and experience some black culture. Is exoticism really a bad thing? Exoticism, though an objectifying technique, seems to garner a more respectful outlook on other cultures than the instance Fanon describes of the boy on the trolly.
In response to Alana's post, I agree that it is a sort of exoticism that may draw the white players interest into Black culture. But I feel that once the white players join in and begin to feel familiar with the soul music (they sing before the games to intimidate opponents) the original sense of exoticism is lost. I feel that this is what was important in squashing the racism on the team. With a feeling of familiarity came a feeling of equality.
ReplyDeleteSee that is what I am getting at. To me it seems that exoticism is portrayed negatively because it objectifies in the way Fanon describes. Yet at the same time I see that it is the beginnings of respect and equality.
ReplyDeleteReally good points on exoticism Alana and obrient. I thought the same thing after class that day. It does seem wrongheaded to claim exoticism can only reinforce or maybe reshape racism. The example of Dave Brubeck, a great white jazz pianist, comes to mind, I believe he was one of the first white musicians to completely ignore the unwritten code of band segregation and not begrudgingly accept it as a historical necessity. For him and many other jazz musicians, the music came first. To me, that seems fundamentally at odds with characterizing the desire of people of different races to experience another race's culture as essentially objectifying exoticism. To me, this suggests that 'exoticism' does not necessarily have to be negative, although it often frequently is in practice, especially when people are not truly sincere.
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